Efficient transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies between naturally exposed mothers and infants in Accra, Ghana

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-05, Vol.14 (1), p.10772-10772, Article 10772
• Main Authors: Partey, Frederica D., Obiri, Dorotheah, Bonney, Evelyn Yayra, Pobee, Abigail Naa Adjorkor, Damptey, Isaac Kumi, Ennuson, Keren, Akwetea-Foli, Jayln, Nuokpem, Franklin Yengdem, Courtin, David, Kusi, Kwadwo A., Mensah, Benedicta A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/250; 631/250/255; 692/699/255; 692/699/255/2514; Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Antibodies, Protozoan - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens; Circumsporozoite protein; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fetal Blood - immunology; Ghana; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Malaria; Maternal COVID-19; Maternal-Fetal Exchange - immunology; multidisciplinary; Pregnancy; Prenatal COVID-19 placental transfer; Proteins; SARS-COV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Transfer efficiency; Vaccination; Vector-borne diseases; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61496-3

We aimed to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among pregnant women and the transplacental transfer efficiency of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies relative to malaria antibodies among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive mother-cord pairs. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Accra, Ghana, from March to May 2022. Antigen- specific IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (nucleoprotein and spike-receptor binding domain) and malarial antigens (circumsporozoite protein and merozoite surface protein 3) in maternal and cord plasma were measured by ELISA. Plasma from both vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women were tested for neutralizing antibodies using commercial kit. Of the unvaccinated pregnant women tested, 58.12% at antenatal clinics and 55.56% at the delivery wards were seropositive for both SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and RBD antibodies. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cord samples correlated with maternal antibody levels (N antigen r s  = 0.7155, p